Seam type zipper with adjustable bottom stop

ABSTRACT

An invisible or seam type zipper includes two tapes with a chain of fastening elements attached to each of the tapes. A slider is provided to open and close the fastening elements and a fixed bottom stop is rigidly attached to the chains for securing the terminal portions of one end of the chains of fastening elements in a closed position. Advantageously, the seam type zipper has an adjustable bottom stop which can be installed on the chains of fastening elements at any selected location above the fixed stop in a simple and effective manner by the use of a needle and thread. For installation with needle and thread the adjustable bottom stop has thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle to retain the stitching used to secure the adjustable stop in the desired location and to protect the stitching from contact with the slider. The adjustable bottom stop may be constructed in a C-shaped configuration adapted to fit over and slide on the chains of fastening elements.

[limited States Patent [1 1 Bonner, Jr.

11 3,849,841 Nov. 26, 1974 SEAM TYPE ZIPPER WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM STOP t [75] Inventor: Andrew C. Borz ner, Jr., Millburn,

[73] Assignee: American Can Company,

' Greenwich, Conn. [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 320,111

52 Us. Cl 24/205.11 R [51] Int. Cl A44b 19/00 [58] Field of Searc h.....- 24/20511 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,534 11/1941 Voity 24/205111 R 2,501,169 3/1950 Gould 24/205.11 R 2,618,828 11/1952 Moehler. 24/205.11 R 3,555,627 1/1971 1 R Howell 24 205.1

Primary Examiner- -Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner -D'arrell Marquette I Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Rober t P. Auber; Douglas W. Wyatt I Y [5 7 ABSTRACT An invisible or seam type zipper includes two tapes with a chain of fastening elements attached to each of the tapes. A slider is provided to open and close the fastening elements and a fixed bottom stop is rigidly attached to the chains for securing the terminal portions of one end of the chains of fastening elements in a closed position. Advantageously, the seam type zipper has an adjustable bottom stop which can be installed on the chains of. fastening elements at any selected location above the fixed stop in a simple and effective manner by the use of a needle and thread.

For installation with needle and. thread the adjustable 19 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures FIG 9 PATENT rmvzslsm I saw an; 3

FIGS

we. lo

SEAM TYPE ZIPPER WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM STOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I Seam type zippers, which are frequently called in tively inexperienced home seamstress who may use a special type of zipper presser foot attachable to the presser bar of a sewing machine in order to facilitate the proper installation of the invisible zipper.

Because it is important to stitch a seam type zipper in place on a garment with stitching lines along the tapes as close as possible to the chains of fastening elements, the average home seamstress needs the special zipper foot to conveniently and properly install a seam type zipper. US. Pat. No. 3,349,736 to Howell discloses such a special zipper foot assembly used by the home seamstress to properly and easily install seam type zippers. This type of seam type zipper foot assembly is adapted to be fastened to the presser bar of sewing machines and includes a special'presser foot which has guide avenues which orient the fastening elements of the zipper and has a central aperture between the guide avenues for receiving the sewing machine needle. The function of the seam type zipper foot is to guide the zipper chains and the zipper tapes past the sewing needle in order to make the stitching line as close as possible to the chains of the fastening elements to form a tight seam so that only a closed seam can be seen when the garment is viewed from the right side.

When installing the seam type zipper with the special zipper foot or with a conventional presser foot, the zipper is sewn in such a manner that the conventional bottom stop of the zipper no longer functions to receive the repeated impact of the zipper slider when the zipper is opened. The method of installation with a special zipper foot is described in detail hereinafter and is disclosed in US. Pat- No. 3,613,61 l to Howell. With this method of installing seam type zippers with a special presser foot, the two stitching lines attaching the two zipper tapes to the garment do not extend to the ends of the chains of fastening elements. Accordingly, to close the garment seam a third stitching line must be made to join the garment seam below the zipper. Because this third stitching line commences at a point above the conventional bottom stop at the ends of the chains of fastening elements, when the slider is moved to open the fastening elements, it contacts the beginning of this third stitching line formed to close the garment seam and not the conventional bottom stop. Experience has shown that repeated contact of the slider with the third stitching line causes the stitches to rip or the garment to tear and accordingly the stitching line provides an unsatisfactory bottom stop for the slider.

In addition, a seamstress may desire to shorten a seam type zipper to customize the zipper for special size opening for for a particular garment. Cutting off the fixed bottom stop in the process of shortening the zipper creates the need for the installation of a newbottom stop for the shortened zipper.

THE PRIOR ART Various types of bottom stops have been heretofore proposed for use as a second bottom stop for a seam type zipper installed with a special zipper foot or for use as a bottom stop for a shortened zipper. Previous attempts to solve this problem include whip stitching of the fastening elements at the appropriate location to form a stop of thread extending perpendicular to the path of travel of the slider. This method has proved unsatisfactory because repeated contact by the metal slider with the whip stitching at the end of the opening movement of the zipper slider tends to break the threads of the whip stitching.

Another attempted solution has been the provision of a second metal stop which is slidable on the fastening elements and which can be crimped in place by the use of pliers or other such mechanical tools. This approach has the disadvantage that the home seamstress must use a mechanical tool not normally found in her sewing basket to install this type of bottom stop. In addition, improper crimping of the metal stop can damage the chain of fastening elements, which problem is particu' larly acute with synthetic plastic coil type zippers. Further, if the metal stop is not crimped on tightly enough, repeated contact with the slider causes the stop to move out of place so that theslider comes in contact with the stitching closing the garment seam and rips out the stitching line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 7 It is an object of the present invention to provide a seam type zipper having an adjustable bottom stop which may be installed at any selected location along the length of the zipper above the conventional fixed bottom stop and which may be conveniently secured in place by a needle and thread.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a seam type zipper having an adjustable bottom stop, which after being secured in place, will prevent the zipper slider from damaging the thread holding the adjustable bottom stop in place.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a seam type zipper having an adjustable bottom stop that may be installed without the use of mechanical tools not usually found in the sewing box of a home seamstress.-

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such a seam type zipper having an adjustable bottom stop that can be installed without damaging the zipper fastening elements.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a seam type zipper with an adjustable stop that may be used to provide a stop on a shortened zipper.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects and other advantages can be readily attained in a seam type zipper including a pair of tapes for attaching the zipper to a garment and a pair of chains of fas tening elements attached to the tapes. The seam type zipper has a conventional fixed bottom stop securing the terminal portions of one end of the chains of the fastening elements in an engaged position. A slider is engageable with the chains for engaging and disengaging the fastening elements and is movable longitudinally from the fixed bottom stop toward the free ends of the chains for engaging the fastening elements and for disengaging fastening elements when moved longitudinally in the opposite direction.

The seam type zipper of the present invention additionally has an adjustable bottom stop engageable with the chains of fastening elements at any selected point spaced from the fixed bottom stop and which may be conveniently sewn in place by needle and thread. The adjustable bottom stop has a top web and a pair of side flanges extending from the web for engagement with the chains of the fastening elements and thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle for receiving and protecting thread attaching the adjustable bottom stop on the fastening elements at any selected point. The thread receptacle extends in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of the movement of the slider.

The thread guide surfaces forming the transversely aligned thread receptacles may be formed in the web or the flanges of the adjustable bottom stop. In addition, the adjustable bottom stop may be constructed with thread guide surfaces in the web forming an upper transversely extending thread receptacle and with additional aligned thread guide surfaces in the flanges forming a lower transversely extending thread receptacle, the upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive loops of thread attaching the adjustable bottom stop on the fastening elements.

In a highly desirable embodiment, the adjustable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on the fastening elements. This adjustable stop has a pair of spaced generally parallel transversely extending top webs with oppositely facing thread guide surfaces with a transversely extending channel aperture therebetween for forming an upper thread receptacle. The webs have their end portions bent obliquely to the plane of the webs with the flanges extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom. The top portions of the flanges between the bent end portions of the webs provide thread guide surfaces aligned with the thread guide surfaces of the top webs. The flanges have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces formed at their free ends which are in turn aligned with the thread guide surfaces of the top webs whereby the top web thread guide surfaces and the flange thread guide surfaces form upper and lower thread receptacles, respectively, for receiving loops of thread attaching the adjustable bottom stop to the fastening elements.

This relatively simple construction of a seam type zipper allows the adjustable bottom stop to be installed conveniently by needle and thread and in addition holds the thread away from damaging contact by the zipper slider. Variations in the construction of the adjustable bottom stop are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the seam type zipper of the present invention illustrating the convenient installation of the adjustable bottom stop by needle and thread.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the seam type zipper of the present invention illustrating the beginning of the first step in the process of installing the zipper on a garment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the adjustable bottom stop of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the adjustable bottom stop for the seam type zipper of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of an additional embodiment of the adjustable bottom stop for the scam type zipper of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of yet another embodiment of an adjustable bottom stop for the seam type zipper of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the seam type zipper of the present invention illustrating the installation steps of aligning one of the tapes of the zipper with a second garment panel.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the sewing of the second tape of the seam type zipper to a second garment panel. 1

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the stitching lines sewn in the garment to install the tapes of the seam type zipper and to close the garment seam.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are partial plan views of the seam type zipper of this invention illustrating the positioning and stitching in place of the adjustable bottom stop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As illustrated in FIG. 1 through 3 of the drawings, the invisible or seam type zipper of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, includes a pair of tapes l2 and 14 for installing the zipper 10 on a garment in the manner described hereinafter. Upwardly turned edge beads or welts l6 and 18 are formed on opposing inner edge portions of each of the tapes 12 and 14. Chains of fastening elements 20 and 22 are attached to the welts l6 and 18 and may be conventional chains of metal zipper teeth or the plastic coil or filament type. The zipper 10 has a slider 24 which disengages and engages the fastening elements 20 and 22 for opening and closing the zipper 10 in the usual manner.

A conventional bottom stop 26 is provided at the lower end of the zipper 10 to prevent the slider 24 from being accidentally disengaged from the fastening elements 20 and 22 prior to installation. The stop 26 is rigidly attached in a fixed position at the extreme lower ends of the chains of fastening elements 20 and 22 and may be in the form of a metal clip; or in the case of a plastic coil zipper, the stop 26 may be formed by welding the coils together by the application of heat and pressure. While the fixed bottom stop 26 would function as the actual bottom stop for conventional zippers, when a seam type zipper is installed in a garment by a sewing machine with a special presser foot, the conventional rigidly attached bottom stop 26 at the ends of the chains of fastening elements 20 and 22 cannot function as the actual bottom stop. Similarly, when a zipper is shortened to customize the length to fit a particular garment, the conventional bottom stop 26 no longer functions as a bottom stop for the slider. Accordingly, other means must be provided to limit the movement of the slider. in the opening direction after the seam type zipper has been installed with a special presser adjustable bottom stop 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 1

through 3 of the drawings which show the stop 28 having a generally C-shaped configuration with a pair of top web portions 30 and 32 and opposing side flanges 34 and 36 extending downwardly therefrom. The top portions of the webs 30 and 32 are generally flat in the area extending over the fastening elements and 22.

However, at both ends, the webs 30 and 32 are bent at an angle greater than 90 so that they turn downwardly and are inclined inwardly. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the flanges 34 and 36 extend from the ends of the bent end portions of the webs 30 and 32 so that they are inclined inwardly toward each other thereby giving the stop 28 its generally C-shaped configuration, which allows the stop 28 to be slideably retained on the fastening elements 20 and 22 and welts 16 and 18.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the adjustable bottom stop 28 is formed with transverse thread receptacles or channels to retain and to protect from contact with the slider 24 the stitching used to secure the stop 28 to the zipper 10 at the selected location after the zipper 10 has been installed on a garment. The web portions 30 and 32 are spaced in parallel relationship to provide oppositely facing thread guide surfaces 30a and 32a which cooperate with thread guide surfaces 340 and 360 of the adjacent upper portion of the flanges 34 andand 42 therebetween providing a lower transverse thread receptacle to receive and hold the stitching as it passes under the fastening elements 20 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus the aligned upper and lower transverse thread receptacles provided by the adjustable bottom stop 28 cooperate to retain and protect the loops of thread used to secure the stop in place.

Another embodiment of the second adjustably positionable stop 28 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and has a construction similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 with the same parts indicated by the same reference numerals. The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs in that side flanges 34 and 36 are not inclined in the manner of the ends of the webs 30 and 32 of the previously described adjustable bottom stop as best seen in FIG. 3, but extend perpendicularly to. the webs as the web ends arebent at approximately a 90 angle to the webs. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the stop 28 does not slide on the fastening elements 20 and 22 but instead is manually placed over the fastening elements 20 and 22 at the time it is desired to sew the stop in place. This embodiment has the advantage of allowing the slider 24 to be moved down against the conventional bottom stop 26 during installation of the zipper so that subsequently the stop 28 can be sewn in at a slightly lower position.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG; 5 the stop 28 has a similar construction to the stop of FIG. 4, with the parts having the same reference numerals. In addition, the stop of FIG. 5 has finger portions 44 and 46 extending inwardly from the leg portions 34a, 34b and 36a and 36b in order to grip the underside of the welts l6 and 18 to secure the stop on the fastening elements 20 and 22 in sliding relationship. This type of generally C- shaped slideable bottom stop is useful on zippers where the configuration of the fastening elements 20 and 22 and the welts 16 and 18 are such that the type of C- shaped slideable stop of FIGS. 1 through 3 would not slide as readily.

Another embodiment of the adjustable bottom stop is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the second bottom stop has a solid top web portion 48 with side flanges 50 and 52 extending generally perpendicularly downwardly therefrom. As with the adjustable stop of FIG. 4, the adjustable stop of FIG. 6 must be manually placed on the zipper. Adjacent to the lower free ends of the flanges 50 and 52, opposed aligned thread guide surfaces 54 and 56 in the form of apertures provide a transversely extending thread receptacle to receive the stitching securing this stop in place. The stop of FIG. 6 is installed in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1.

ZIPPER INSTALLATION As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7 through 11, the zipper 10 of the present invention is installed adjacent to the seam edge of the front face of garment fabric'panels 60 and 62. The panels 60 and 62 are the so-called right side of the garment, that is, they are the sides of the garment facing outwardly when the garment is completed.

The seam type zipper is sewn into the garment in a well known manner by the following steps. First, the slider 24 is moved to open the zipper, the tapes l2 and 14 are separated and the opened zipper is placed face down on the right side of the first panel 60 of the fabric. As illustrated in FIG. 2, one tape 12 of the zipper is placed on the top of the right side of the fabric panel 60 with the zipper fastening elements positioned inwardly from the seam line of the panel 60. The slider 24 and the sliding stop 28 are moved to the extreme bottom position and a special seam type zipper foot 64 attached to the presser. bar of a sewing machine is then moved so that its center indicator aperture 66 is aligned with the needle of the sewing machine. The zipper foot' of the sewing machine is then lowered on the tape 12 which has been alligned 4 inch inward from the edge of the fabric panel 60, and stitching line 68 is made down the tape 12 until the zipper foot 64 contacts the slider 24.

In the second step, illustrated in FIG. 7, the zipper is closed by moving the slider 24 upwardly and the un stitched second tape 14 is pinned to the right side of the other fabric panel 62. As in the first step, fastening elements 22 of the tape 14 are located away from the seam line of the fabric panel 62.

In the third step, illustrated in FIG. 8, the zipper 10 is opened and the zipper foot 64 is lowered so that its left channel (when viewed from the front) straddles the chain of fastening elements 22. Stitching line 70 is then made down the second tape until the zipper foot 64 again contacts the slider 24.

In the fourth step, the zipper foot 64 is slid to the left (as viewed from the front of the machine) so that the needle passes through a notch in the right side of the zipper foot. The zipper 10 is then closed and the right sides of the fabric are placed together in face to face relationship. The seams of the fabric panels 60 and 62 are aligned and the sewing machine needle is inserted approximately inch above and 1/16 inch to the left of the end of the stitching lines 68 and 70. The zipper foot is again lowered and stitching line 72 is made to the end of the garment seam as illustratedjn FIG. 9. The fourth step producing stitching line 72 closes the seam below the end of the zipper but above the conventional zipper stop, that is below the seam where the zipper will open.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the junction 74 of the lower ends of the stitching lines 68 and 70 and the upper end of the stitching line 72 define the lowest point that the slider 24 can be moved in the opening direction. Thus, the junction 74 is spaced away from he conventional fixed bottom stop 26 which therefore cannot function to take the strain of stopping the slider 24 when it is moved to the open position. Accordingly, unless a second bottom stop is provided the stitching line 72 must function to stop the opening movement of the slider 24. Experience has shown that repeated applications of the pressure of the slider 24 against the stitching tends to open the stitching or tear the fabric. Thus reliance on the stitching to provide a bottom stop is unsatisfactory.

BOTTOM STOP INSTALLATION 'In order to provide a second bottom stop that eliminates the problems created by the slider 24 opening the stitching at the junction 74, the zipper 10 of the present invention advantageously provides the sliding stop 28 which may be conveniently sewn into place just above the junction 74 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, l and 11. Accordingly, a home seamstress can secure the stop 28 in place with a needle 76 and thread 78. Thus the seamstress does not have to use mechanical tools not usually in the sewing box of the home seamstress to install the stop 28.

The stop 28 is installed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by inserting the needle 76 through the tapes l2 and 14 under the welts l6 and 18 and wrapping the thread around the stop 28 so that the thread 78 is securely retained in the upper transverse thread receptacle between the webs 30 and 32 and by the lower transverse thread receptacle formed by the thread guides 40 and and 42. The adjustable stop 28 may be made of metal or of a relatively stiff plastic material that will not be damaged by repeated contact with the slider 24. Thus the thread 78 is protected from contact with the slider 24 by the advantageous configuration of the thread receptacles formed in the stop 28.

The adjustable stops illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6 provide similar advantages as they can all be conveniently sewn ,in place by needle and thread in the same manner. This same method of installation of the adjustable bottom stop 28 can be used to install a bottom stop on a zipper that has been shortened to customize the zipper length to fit a particular garment.

It will be understood that the foregoing description with the details of exemplary structure is not to be construed in any way to limit the invention, but that modification may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching said zipper to a garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements attached to said tapes; fixed bottom stop means engaged with said chains of fastening elements, said fixed bottom stop means being attached in a permanent position and securing the terminal portions at one end of said chains of fastening elements in an engaged position; slider means engageable with said chains of fastening elements and movable longitudinally thereon, said slider means being movable longitudinally toward the free ends of said chains for engaging said fastening elements and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said chains elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom stop to provide a bottom stop for said slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectively locatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacle extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means.

2. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.

3. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.

4. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and 'lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements.

5. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop including a plurality of spaced generally parallel transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said transversely extending thread receptacle.

6. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and wherein said flanges of said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.

7. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements,'and said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop includes a pair of spaced transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle, and wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop has a transversely extending channel aperture between said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.

8. The seam type zipper of claim 7 wherein said pair of top webs of said selectively locatable stop have their end portions bent obliquely to the plane of said webs,

I and said bent end portions have said flanges extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and wherein the top portions of said flanges between said bent end portions have thread guide surfaces aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.

9. The seam type zipper of claim 8 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have thread guide surfaces formed in their free ends aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs, said top web thread guide surfaces and said flange thread guide surfaces forming upper and lower thread receptacles respectively for receiving loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop to said fastening elements.

10. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching said zipper to a garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements attached to said tapes; fixed bottom stop means engaged with said chains of fastening elements, said fixed bottom stop means being attached in a permanent position and securing the terminal portions at-one end of said chains of fastening elements in an engaged position; slider means engageable with said chains of fastening elements and movable longitudinally thereon, said slider means being movable longitudinally toward the free ends of said chains for engaging said fastening elements and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said claims of fastening elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom stop to provide a bottom stop forsaid slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop being generally C-shaped and slideably mounted on said fastening elements, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectively locatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces formingtransversely extending thread receptacles for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacles extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means, said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop having transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements.

11. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching saidzipper to garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements atments and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said chains elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom, stop to provide a bottom stop for said slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectivelylocatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacle extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means, and loops of thread disposed in said receptacle and extending about said fastening elements thereby securing said selectively locatable bottom stop in the desired place.

12. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said web of selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle. i

13. The seam type zipper of claim 12 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guidesurfaces forming a thread receptacle. a

14. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive said loops of thread attaching said bottom stop on said fastening elements.

15. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped for slideable movement on said fastening elements, prior to attachment by said thread loops to said fastening elements at the desired location, said selectively locatable bottom stop including a plurality of spaced gen erally parallel transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said transversely extending thread receptacle receiving said thread loops.

16. The seam type zipper of claim 11 where in said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable bottom stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle receiving said thread loops.

17. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and said selectively locatable bottom stop includes a pair of spaced transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle, and wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop has a transversely extending channel aperture between said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.

18. The seam type zipper of claim 17 wherein said pair of top webs of said selectively locatable stop have their end portions bent obliquely to the plane of said webs, and said bent end portions have said flanges extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and wherein the top portions of said flanges between said bent end portions have thread guide surfaces aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.

19. The seam type zipper of claim 18 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have thread guide surfaces formed in their free ends aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs, said top web thread guide surfaces and said flanges thread guide surfaces forming upper and lower thread receptacles respectively for receiving loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop to said fastening elements. 

1. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching said zipper to a garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements attached to said tapes; fixed bottom stop means engaged with said chains of fastening elements, said fixed bottom stop means being attached in a permanent position and securing the terminal portions at one end of said chains of fastening elements in an engaged position; slider means engageable with said chains of fastening elements and movable longitudinally thereon, said slider means being movable longitudinally toward the free ends of said chains for engaging said fastening elements and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said chains elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom stop to provide a bottom stop for said slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectively locatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacle extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means.
 2. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.
 3. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.
 4. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements.
 5. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, said (adjustable) selectively locataBle bottom stop including a plurality of spaced generally parallel transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said transversely extending thread receptacle.
 6. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and wherein said flanges of said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.
 7. The seam type zipper of claim 1 wherein said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and said (adjustable) selectively locatable bottom stop includes a pair of spaced transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle, and wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop has a transversely extending channel aperture between said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.
 8. The seam type zipper of claim 7 wherein said pair of top webs of said selectively locatable stop have their end portions bent obliquely to the plane of said webs, and said bent end portions have said flanges extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and wherein the top portions of said flanges between said bent end portions have thread guide surfaces aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.
 9. The seam type zipper of claim 8 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have thread guide surfaces formed in their free ends aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs, said top web thread guide surfaces and said flange thread guide surfaces forming upper and lower thread receptacles respectively for receiving loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop to said fastening elements.
 10. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching said zipper to a garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements attached to said tapes; fixed bottom stop means engaged with said chains of fastening elements, said fixed bottom stop means being attached in a permanent position and securing the terminal portions at one end of said chains of fastening elements in an engaged position; slider means engageable with said chains of fastening elements and movable longitudinally thereon, said slider means being movable longitudinally toward the free ends of said chains for engaging said fastening elements and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said chains of fastening elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom stop to provide a bottom stop for said slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop being generally C-shaped and slideably mounted on said fastening elements, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectively locatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces forming transversely extending thread receptacles for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacles extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means, said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop having transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements.
 11. A seam type zipper including a pair of elongated tapes for attaching said zipper to garment; a pair of elongated chains of engageable fastening elements attached to said tapes; fixed bottom stop means engaged with said chains of fastening elements, said fixed bottom stop means being attached in a permanent position and securing the terminal portions at one end of said chains of fastening elements in an engaged position; slider means engageable with said chains of fastening elements and movable longitudinally thereon, said slider means being movable longitudinally toward the free ends of said chains for engaging said fastening elements and being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for disengaging said fastening elements; a selectively locatable bottom stop engageable with said chains elements at a selected point between the ends of said pair of elongated chains and spaced from said fixed bottom stop to provide a bottom stop for said slider means, said selectively locatable bottom stop having a top web and a pair of spaced side flanges extending from said web for engagement with said chains of fastening elements; said selectively locatable bottom stop having preformed thread guide surfaces forming a transversely extending thread receptacle for receiving thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop on said fastening elements at said selected point, said thread receptacle extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinally extending fastening elements and to the direction of movement of said slider means, and loops of thread disposed in said receptacle and extending about said fastening elements thereby securing said selectively locatable bottom stop in the desired place.
 12. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said web of selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle.
 13. The seam type zipper of claim 12 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a thread receptacle.
 14. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said web of said selectively locatable stop has transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming an upper thread receptacle and said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming a lower thread receptacle, said upper and lower thread receptacles being aligned to receive said loops of thread attaching said bottom stop on said fastening elements.
 15. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped for slideable movement on said fastening elements, prior to attachment by said thread loops to said fastening elements at the desired location, said selectively locatable bottom stop including a plurality of spaced generally parallel transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said transversely extending thread receptacle receiving said thread loops.
 16. The seam type zipper of claim 11 where in said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable bottom stop have transversely aligned thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle receiving said thread loops.
 17. The seam type zipper of claim 11 wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop is generally C-shaped and is slideably mounted on said fastening elements, and said selectively locatable bottom stop includes a pair of spaced transversely extending top webs having oppositely facing thread guide surfaces forming said thread receptacle, and wherein said selectively locatable bottom stop has a transversely extending channel aperture between said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.
 18. The seam type zipper of claim 17 wherein said pair of top webs of said selectively locatable stop have their end portions bent obliquely to the plane of said webs, and said bent end portions have said flanges extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and wherein the top portions of said flanges between said bent end portions have thread guide surfaces aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs.
 19. The seam type zipper of claim 18 wherein said flanges of said selectively locatable stop have thread guide surfaces formed in their free ends aligned with said thread guide surfaces of said top webs, said top web thread guide surfaces and said flanges thread guide surfaces forming upper and lower thread receptacles respectively for receiving loops of thread attaching said selectively locatable bottom stop to said fastening elements. 